2021 Nissan Murano vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out by not mimicking its competitors' styles. Instead, it adopted the successful design language of the larger Navigator, resulting in a sharp-looking vehicle with crisp lines and tasteful chrome accents. Inside, the Aviator differentiated itself from its Ford counterpart with a luxurious cabin featuring soft-touch materials, chrome accents, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the Aviator's air of class and luxury.

The 2021 Nissan Murano, once a cutting-edge design, had become more mainstream with its L-shaped LED headlights and contoured front end. Its interior was conservative but functional, with controls placed intuitively. The Murano's cabin was designed for comfort, making it an ideal choice for commutes and road trips. The restrained styling meant a minimal learning curve for new drivers.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine in its Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This power was managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission, with options for rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims featured a plug-in hybrid version of the same engine, boosting output to 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque, with a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator excelled in highway driving but struggled with body roll in corners and tight city maneuvers.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came with a single engine option: a 3.5-liter V6 producing 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD). The Murano provided strong low-speed acceleration but the CVT dulled its power at higher speeds. It had a comfortable ride, making it ideal for commuting and road trips, but its towing capacity was limited to 1,500 pounds.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, expandable to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring trim, offered ample space and amenities like captain's chairs and a digital control panel. However, the power-button door releases could be problematic if the battery died.

The 2021 Nissan Murano offered up to 67 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 32.1 cubic feet with the seats in use. While other two-row SUVs offered more cargo space, the Murano excelled in ease-of-use with a traditional shifter design and a center console full of trays and cubbies. The Murano's two-row seating provided ample headroom and legroom, with partially reclining second-row seats.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system, which was user-friendly and had a sensible menu layout. It came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the fully digital instrument panel and optional head-up display (HUD) added to its tech appeal.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which was easy to use and supported by hard buttons and dials. It also included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Available tech features included an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and navigation.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, which included automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added features like reverse automatic braking and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top safety marks from the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2021 Nissan Murano featured the Nissan Safety Shield 360 package, which included reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Additional safety features like a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control were available.